East Haven Officials Call For Police Probe

East Haven’s Board of Police Commissioners is calling for a state probe into last year’s arrest of a Roman Catholic priest. 

The Reverend James Manship was arrested in February 2009 as he videotaped East Haven police removing expired license plates from the wall of a convenience store owned by a local Latino shopkeeper.  Manship is the pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church, whose congregation is made up largely of Hispanics.  The video was meant to document allegations of police harassment of local Latino businesses.  

The officers said they weren’t sure if Manship was holding a camera or a gun.  He was arrested and charged with breach of peace and interfering with an officer.  All charges were later dropped.

The incident galvanized local Hispanics, and led to their speaking out about an alleged pattern of race-based violence, harassment and intimidation by East Haven police.  A federal investigation is currently underway.

East Haven Mayor April Capone Almon plans to bring in a national policing research organization to help the East Haven department improve.

"They’re gong to look at the department from top to bottom. They’re going to speak to officers. They’re going to speak to management. They’re going to speak to the community."

Now, East Haven’s police commissioners want the Connecticut state prosecutor’s office to investigate the arrest of Father Manship.  

For WNPR, I'm Diane Orson.